Basic anatomy of type

• x-height The height of the lower case letters such as `x', `a', `e'.
• Ascender The stroke of a letter which rises above the Mean line as `k', `l', `h'.
• Descender The stroke of a letter which hangs below the Base line such as `p', `y', `g'.
• Mean line The imaginary line which determines the height of lowercase letters; ascenders rise above the mean line.
• Base line The imaginary line on which all characters rest; descenders hang below the base line.
• Body size Size of the type being used; measured from the end of the ascender to the end of the descender.
• Serif Small strokes and cross-lines at the ends of major lines.
• Set width Width, in units, allowed for each letter which varies between letters and type faces.
• Cap Line The height of capital letters. Depending on type design, capitals may be taller/shorter or same height as ascenders.
• Counter The enclosed space within some letters.